In a recent Hill Times article, Martha Hall Findlay said she feared she would have no political home if the Liberal Party of Canada merged with the NDP and that a lot of Liberals she’d talked to felt the same. Many other Liberals have said a leader is needed to rally the membership and nothing can be done before that happens. With the chorus of voices crying out in the social media wilderness it might seem Liberals are lost and confused and spinning off in different directions.
Fear is a very natural human reaction when something you care about is or at risk. We worry. We fear. We get angry. We look for someone to blame. We curl up in a ball and block it out. We stand on street corners shouting that the end is near. None of these reactions will prevent what we fear most from happening. Fear without action causes an anxiety that is relentless and can even be unbearable.
In the same article Gerard Kennedy expressed his frustration that the party is so focused on leadership that the necessary focus is not being put to bear on rebuilding the party. I agree with this sentiment and I think networking with other Liberals and being pro-active is the best antidote for Liberal Shenpa.
So take a deep breath, lean into that fear and hold the line. I’m here with you and so are many others. Get out there and tell the world we’re still here and we’re not going anywhere.
Below are my favourite Tweets today that should give you some indication of how much fight is left in the Liberal Party.
